Montreal Canadiens: Mattias Norlinder Has Been A Bright Spot At Camp
The Montreal Canadiens are four games through their six-game preseason schedule, and their success can be best described as a mixed bag, mainly because their power play has stalled.
After the latest loss, there were several cuts, including Joshua Roy, David Reinbacher, Riley Kidney and a few others. Among the young guys looking for a spot, Mattias Norlinder still remains, which has been a welcomed surprise.
Norlinder didn’t stand out last season with the Laval Rocket, and questions lingered about his future amongst some promising defence prospects for the Habs. This year at Canadiens training camp, Norlinder has stood out, and the fact that he still remains at camp is a testament to that.
Martin St. Louis has used Norlinder regularly on the power play, and he has taken full advantage of it, using great passing and strong positioning to show off his great mobility.
Obviously, the Canadiens’ development team has rubbed off directly on Norlinder, as it appears he put his offseason to good use. He arrived prepared and has been one of the most consistent defensemen throughout camp. This bodes well for Norlinder who looks like a much more confident player, which has translated to more high-danger passes and poise running things from the blueline on the power play.
On the left side for the Canadiens, it seems almost a lock that Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj will take roles, but Norlinder’s strong play could see him swapping in and out of the lineup.
Also to be considered, Matheson could start the season on the injured reserve with his latest ailment, so Norlinder could slot right in, which would be great for experience. He isn’t perfect defensively, but he is able to push the offence and add another puck mover to complement the exciting young forward core, so he could be given a longer leash.
If he doesn’t make it past the final cut, then he could certainly help lead the defence core down in Laval. Either way, his strong play will be welcomed wherever he plays, and it will help the Rocket and their playoff hopes. Norlinder, along with the rest of the Canadiens young defensemen represents one of the stronger groups throughout the National Hockey League.
With all the Canadiens’ defenders looking to break into the league in the next few years, Norlinder’s improvement could keep him afloat on the strong left side of the Canadiens’ defence. If he doesn’t find his way to the NHL with the Habs, then he could very well be a nice trade piece. Improved development and drafting have already started to bear their fruits and Norlinder presents proof of that.
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